Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;Candlelight&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Candlelight’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with some red/purple spots on the lateral sepals and a red/purple labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Candlelight’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Candlelight’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Candlelight’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Rene Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Candlelight’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2001 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sunrise Red Peoker’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘White Windian’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Candlelight’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2009 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in November, 2009 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Candlelight’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are white with some red/purple spots on the lateral sepals and a red/purple labellum;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Candlelight’, the female parent ‘Sunrise Red Peoker’ is red/purple with some yellow on the edges, the male parent ‘White Windian’ is white with yellow in the labellum, whereas the flowers of ‘Candlelight’ are white with some red/purple spots on the lateral sepals and a red/purple.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Candlelight’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘222990’ (unpatented). The raceme of ‘Candlelight’ is a little larger and the flowers of ‘Candlelight are also little larger than ‘222990’. ‘Candlelight has some red/purple spots on the lateral sepals, whereas ‘222990’ also has some yellow/green on the lateral sepals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Candlelight’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Candlelight’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Candlelight’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Candlelight’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Candlelight’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Candlelight’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Candlelight’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Candlelight’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Candlelight’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Candlelight’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Candlelight’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Candlelight’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Sunrise Red Peoker’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘White Windian’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190C); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 50 cm Spread: about 50 cm.         -   Growth habit.—small; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-4 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6-10 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval; the tip is pretty pointy and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—none.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 19 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 7 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: yellow/green (RHS 137C).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS 139A) under side: green (RHS 137A and RHS 137B). -   Inflorescence description: -   Appearance: upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with     bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning     with the lowermost flower. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 4.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 15-30.         -   Length.—about 45/50 cm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Diameter.—about 4 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—green (RHS 137A) with brown (RHS 200A).         -   Internode.—Length: about 35 mm. -   Buds:     -   -   Height (from base to tip).—about 18 mm.         -   Diameter (at midpoint).—about 9 mm.         -   Shape.—oval/egg-shaped with a bump on one side.         -   Color.—yellow/green (RHS 145B and RHS 145C).         -   Orientation.—same as flowers (forward facing). -   Flowering Time: For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not     undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of     18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30     weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-4 racemes appear with flower     buds and flowers. First flowers can be expected approximately 4 to 6     months after planting a plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm.     Flowers persistent. -   Flowering longevity: On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness     of cut flowers: has not been observed. -   Fragrance: no fragrance -   Flower:     -   -   Rate of opening.—Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days             after petal and sepal separation.         -   Orientation at opening.—slanted upward and outward.         -   Shape.—Typical shape of Phalaenopsis, see FIG. 2.         -   Size (of single bloom).—Height: about 55 mm Diameter: about             60 mm.         -   Quantity and arrangement.—three petals and three sepals that             are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals             are more pronounced than sepals. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral             petals and a labellum.         -   2 lateral petals.—Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly             cupped Apex: oval with a notch Margin: entire and weakly             undulate Base: broadly ovate Length: about 34 mm Width:             about 26 mm Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under             surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper             side: white (RHS NN155C). Under side: white (RHS NN155) with             light red/purple on the vein in the center (RHS 70B).             Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent             callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and             base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward             about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is             terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral             lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe             is triangular with a bump and a rib on it Margin: entire and             weakly undulate Apex: oval Length: about 16 mm Width (not             flattened): about 17 mm Depth of tube created by lateral             lobes of labellum: about 18 mm Texture: Upper & under             surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Mid             lobe, upper side: at the base a white line (RHS NN155C) with             a little yellow (RHS 6A). Main color is red/purple (RHS             72B). In the corners greyed/purple (RHS 184A) and red/purple             (RHS 61 A). Vein in the middle also greyed/purple (RHS             184A). Under side: at the base white (RHS NN155B). Closer to             the corners red/purple spots (RHS 70A and RHS 71 A) and             greyed/red (RHS 182B). The edges are red/purple (RHS 71A).             Lateral lobes, upper side: at the base white (RHS NN155D).             After that red/purple spots (RHS 59A) which runs into             red/purple (RHS 72A) On the lower edge some orange/red (RH             SN34A). Under side: part of the base is white (RHS NN155B)             with a red/purple stripe and some spots (RHS 71A) which runs             into red/purple (RHS 72B). Part of the lower edge is             orange/red (RHS N34A). Cirrhi: about 7 mm color: red/purple             (RHS 71A) with white tips (RHS NN155D) Pestle (Callosities):             Length: about 6 mm Width (not flattened): about 7 mm Color:             white (RHS NN155D) with red/purple spots (RHS 71A) and on             the front some yellow (RHS 14A). -   Sepals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one dorsal and             two lateral sepals.         -   Overall shape.—elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire             and weakly undulate Length: about 30 mm Width: about 25 mm             Apex: oval and little pointy.         -   Texture.—Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny Color             (when fully opened): Upper side, dorsal: white (RHS NN155D).             Lateral: main color is white (RHS NN155D). At the base, only             at the lower part of the lateral sepal some red/purple spots             (RHS 70A). Under side, dorsal: white (RHS NN155D) with a             red/purple haze (RHS 70A). Lateral: white (RHS NN155D) with             a red/purple haze (RHS 70A) and a yellow/green haze (RHS             145C). -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—about 35 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—close to the flower white (RHS NN155D) with             red/purple haze (RHS 70A) which runs into yellow/green (RHS             144D and RHS 144A). -   Reproductive organs: -   Arrangement: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single,     short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther     with pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by an     anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the     pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present. The     plant has not produced seed. -   Column:     -   -   Length.—about 9 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.         -   Color.—white (RHS NN155D). -   Pollinia:     -   -   Quantity.—two.         -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.         -   Color.—yellow/orange (RHS 23A). -   Ovary:     -   -   Length.—about 3 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 2 mm.         -   Color.—white (RHS NN155D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Candlelight’, as illustrated and described herein. 